dinosaurs

Well August didn’t go quite as I planned it. I was on vacation for the last week and got absolutely no reading done. But I still managed to read 15 books in total.

Books I read in August:1. Taken At Dusk by C.C. Hunter ★★★★This was one of my monthly reads with Maria and hopefully we will have a full review up soon.
2. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare ★★★★
The fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series. Not quite as good as the third, but still a great read and continuation of the story.
3. The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer ★★★★★
One of my favourite reads of the month. I have done a full review and you can find it here: https://readsbymandm.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/book-review-the-wishing-spell-by-chris-colfer/4. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett ★★★★
Another great installation in the Discworld series, this time about witches instead of wizards. Really starting to adore Pratchett’s quirky and snarky writing style.
5. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris ★★★★
The third book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I was totally craving this since I have been watching True Blood lately and they are a little bit of a guilty pleasure of mine.
6. Blood Red Road by Moira Young ★★★★
Closer to a 3.5 for this one. I enjoyed it but I’m not too sure when I will continue on with the series.
7. Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout ★★★★I was so totally in the mood for this one, out of the blue I just HAD to pick it up and I am so glad that I did. I’m very happy to be back in this series and I never want it to end.
8. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight ★★★
A great story line, fast paced and super intriguing but a solid build up to a let down of an ending. So many things could have been done better with this one.
9. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis ★★★★
Love the Chronicles of Narnia series, this one was much better than The Horse and His Boy. Can’t wait to continue on with the series.
10. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson ★★★★
This was so so good, especially for a debut novel. It has your mind racing from chapter to chapter. It is very wonderfully written and I highly suggest picking this one up.
11. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa ★★★★
I went into this one not remembering a single thing from the first book but I quite enjoyed it none the less. I will not wait as long to pick up the third book so I can actually remember what is happening.
12. Atonement by Ian McEwan ★★★
This may be one of those times that I enjoyed the movie a little more than the book. I found some parts to be very dull and I really dragged through. Other parts were beautifully written though and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
13. Allies of the Night by Darren Shan ★★★★★
As always, loved this book. This is the 8th book in the series and I am completely in love. I am dreading the end. Will do a full review once I have finished the series.
14. Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout ★★★★
I couldn’t resist picking this one up. I needed more Daemon in my life. Just as good as the rest.
15. The Lost World by Michael Crichton ★★★
This is the second book in the Jurassic Park series. I have a full review of this series coming soon.

Books I want to read in September:
1. Good Girl by Mary Kubica
2. Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
3. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
4. Whispers at Moonrise by C.C. Hunter
5. Horns by Joe Hill
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. The Giver by Lois Lowry
8. Carrie by Stephen King
9. The Soulstice by Simon Holt
10. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
11. The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
12. When War Calls by Zy Rykoa
13. The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer
14. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
15. The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
16. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
17. The Dinner by Herman Koch
18. Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
19. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Let me know how reading in August was for you and what you plan to read in September!

My goal this week is to read a total of four books, which is how many I managed last time I participated in a read-a-thon.
So here is my TBR for the week, although there may be some switching in and out depending on my level of interest in the book.

1. Ink by Amanda Sun. The cover for this one is what completely drew me in and the story sounds amazing. This is the first one I’m picking up and I cannot wait!Click here to find it on Goodreads

2. The Lost World by Michael Crichton. Continuing on with my dinosaur kick, I really liked the first book so I’m pretty sure I will enjoy this one a lot too!Click here to find it on Goodreads

3. Atonement by Ian McEwan. This one has been on my TBR for about three and a half years now and it’s finally time to read it. And I am super excited, I am in love with the movie so I know I will love this one too!Click here to find it on Goodreads

4. Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst. Throwing this in there for a fun and quirky read. I have this out from the library right now and need to read and return it soon.Click here to find it on Goodreads

So there you have it. The four books I hope to complete this week.

If you have planned a TBR please let us know in the comments so we can check yours out! Good luck to everyone.

Well, it’s hard to believe July is already over. This summer is going by way too fast. I managed to read quite a few books in July, not as many as June though. I plan to make August even better!

Books I read in July:
1. The Vampire Prince by Darren Shan ★★★★★
The sixth book in the Saga of Darren Shan. A brilliant series. Quick and easy reads with ton of action.
2. Animal Farm by George Orwell ★★★★★
A wonderful classic, so happy I finally got around to reading this.
3. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart ★★★★
Review coming soon.
4. The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer ★★★
The seventh book in the Artemis Fowl series. Not as enjoyable as the others, but I can’t wait to move on to the next book.
5. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl ★★★★
The third book in the Caster Chronicles. Enjoyed this a little less than the second book,
6. Hunters Of The Dusk by Darren Shan ★★★★★
The seventh in the series and just as great as the rest.
7. The Magicians Nephew by C.S. Lewis ★★★★
A cute and fun read, but the allegory was very noticeable and a little annoying with this one.
8. The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett ★★★★
Review coming soon.
9. Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl ★★★★
The last in the series. So sad it has come to an end. I really grew to love the characters and the caster world.
10. Gulp by Mary Roach ★★★★
Was craving a non fiction and I think this was a good place to start. Very interesting and I’m intrigued to read more of Roach’s work.
11. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier ★★★★
An eerie read and very interesting.
12. Ruin And Rising by Leigh Bardugo ★★★★
The last in the series. This book was my most anticipated book of the year and it was a very satisfying ending.
13. Eragon by Christopher Paolini ★★★★
Gotta love dragons, this was a great start to a series and can’t wait to get even more into it.
14. The Horse And His Boy by C.S. Lewis ★★★
The third in the series. Fell a little flat compared to the first two.
15. Always Something There To Remind Me by Beth Harbison ★★★★
This was my book club book of the month. Was actually a cute and fast read.
16. Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony ★★★★★
An absolute beautiful story told through pictures. This book gave me more feelings than most regular books and movies would.
17. A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore ★★★★★
A very hilarious read, my first novel by Moore and I am very excited to get to more of his books.
18. Saga Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan ★★★★
This is a fabulous graphic novel series (lots of sex, violence and swearing so please make sure you are a mature age if you are wanting to read this). Basically shit went down, and this was awesome.
19. Saga Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan ★★★★
Such a cliffhanger ending, when does volume 4 come out??
20. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton ★★★★
I’ve got dinosaur fever right now. Loved this, it was almost better than the movie!

Books I want to read in August:1. City Of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
2. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
3. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
4. The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
5. The Museums Secret by Henry Chancellor
6. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
7. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
8. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
9. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
10. Atonement by Ian McEwan
11. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

Currently reading: Taken At Dusk by C.C. Hunter

And my if I have time list:
The Lost World by Michael Crichton
Ink by Amanda Sun
Locke And Key Volume 3 by Joe Hill
Sweet England by Steve Weiner
Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

Let me know in the comments how July went for you. Did you get lots of reading done? And let me know the books you plan to read in August.

WELCOME!

readsbymandm is a bookblog that was created in July of 2014 by Mallory and Maria. Here you will find everything between monthly wrap ups and tbrs to book reviews and discussions with our book friends Marissa and Mackenzie. To find exactly what post you are looking for, check out our categories below.